Vacating your Rental? Best Tips To Get Your Full Bond Back

Are you approaching the end of tenancy in Adelaide soon? If so, you may be wondering how to secure your full bond (equivalent to four weeks’ rent) without getting into any conflict or dispute with your landlord. Under the SA tenancy laws, tenants are obligated to return the property in the same condition as when they moved in, except for reasonable wear and tear.

However, there’s a lot more to consider when preparing your rental home for the final inspection. Apart from meeting cleanliness standards, you are also responsible for making necessary repairs (damage caused by you), returning all keys, and notifying the landlord in advance. It is good to understand your responsibilities as a renter and focus on all aspects when moving out of your rental home.

Today, we bring you the best tips and tricks to get your bond easily. Make sure you hire professionally trained end of lease cleaning Adelaide services in advance for a hassle free property inspection.

Here’s how you can retrieve your full bond:

1. Thoroughly Review Your Rental Agreement

Most tenants skip reading their signed rental agreement when moving out and end up losing their security deposit. It is a crucial document that can help you understand your predetermined rights and responsibilities as a tenant. It can further help you avoid any misunderstandings with your landlords.

A rental/lease agreement clearly outlines specific cleaning clauses, such as mould removal, pet control or professional carpet cleaning when vacating a rental property. This way, you can easily avoid last minute chaos or rental disputes by booking add on cleaning services to impress your landlord.

Secondly, it covers the notice period required when moving out of your rental. The notice may vary depending on the territory and state where you are renting. Make sure you thoroughly read everything and prepare yourself well for the final rental inspection to avoid bond deductions.

2. Refer to an Entry Condition Report

This is another critical tip to help you stay vigilant when vacating your rental in Adelaide soon. It is a comprehensive document that outlines the property’s condition upon moving in. It is advised to thoroughly inspect every nook and cranny of the property before signing the report. Click time stamped photos and videos in case of dirt laden areas, existing damage and mould stains.

When moving out, compare the property’s entry condition report with the current state to address serious issues, such as grease buildup, clogged drains, broken windows, etc. Ensure you fix them properly to claim your full bond back.

3. Fix Any Damage Beyond Fair Wear and Tear

Many tenants don’t actually understand the difference between fair wear & tear vs damage due to negligence and misuse. If you want to secure your bond, fix any damage caused by you. This goes beyond everyday wear and tear. This includes visible scratches on walls, broken windows and discoloured carpets, etc.

Upon the landlord’s permission, call the best handyman in your area and do necessary repairs without any stress. Make sure you do this before the arrival of end of lease cleaners in Adelaide. Ensure you have enough time to fix the damage before your rental inspection.

4. Conduct a Thorough Bond Cleaning

Did you know that the majority of bond deductions occur due to substandard cleaning? Landlords and property managers conduct rental inspections and expect their property to be in a clean, habitable condition. Even minor oversights can put your bond money at risk. So, it is always good to hire experts for a budget end of lease cleaning Adelaide to secure your hard earned bond. They follow a standard cleaning checklist, which covers:

• Kitchen: Degreasing cabinets, rangehood, filters, oven, and microwave, deep cleaning exhaust fans, cupboards, stovetop, countertops, backsplash area, sink and faucets. A checklist also includes garbage disposal.
• Bathrooms: Removing soap scum, rust and limescale from showerhead, shower curtains, bathtubs, disinfecting toilet seats, behind the “S” bend, etc. It also includes polishing mirrors, scrubbing counters and cleaning tile and grout lines.
• Ceiling walls, fans and light fixtures: Professionals come equipped with all the necessary tools to remove dust from hard to reach areas, such as walls, fans and light fixtures.
• Windows and Window Treatments: Removing accumulated dust, dirt, hard water stains and grime from window sills, frames, edges and tracks. They cleanthe glass inside and outside windows if accessible. A checklist also includes vacuuming blinds and cleaning blinds.
• Doors and skirting boards: Experts clean and disinfect doors, doorknobs and skirting boards with eco friendly cleaning products.
• Carpets and floors: Vacuuming carpets to remove embedded dirt, grime and gunk. They will sweep and mop the floors using pH neutral floor cleaner.
• Outdoor Cleaning: Patio floors and garage walls are thoroughly cleaned

5. Returning the Keys

All keys provided when you first moved in, such as house keys, mailbox keys, garage remotes and access cards, must be returned to the landlord when moving out. Failing to do so can delay the final inspection and may allow landlords to deduct your bond to cover expenses.

6. Clear Bills and Rent

This is also an essential part when moving out of your rental home. It is imperative to pay all your rent before vacating. Outstanding electricity, water and gas bills should be settled to avoid bond deductions.

7. Document Everything

Make sure you click time stamped before and after cleaning photos and videos of your rental home. This documentation can be used as evidence if a landlord fails an inspection. In South Australia, rental bonds are held by CBS or Consumer and Business Services. Log in to the RBO to dispute a claim on your bond and upload evidence supporting your unfair deduction.

If you and the landlord fail to reach an agreement, apply to SACAT with all necessary proofs, including the receipt of end of lease cleaners Adelaide, to get your full bond without any hassle.

Infographic: A Guide to Securing your Bond Money

Wrapping Up

These are some of the best tips and tricks to help you pass the rental inspection without any stress. Make sure you do proper research, book experts, and understand the landlord’s specific requirements to secure your hard earned bond.